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What does mAh mean on a battery?

Being asked what the mAh number on a battery means is one of the most common questions we get at Battery Force. Most often found on NiMH rechargeable batteries the mAh (or milli Amp hour) rating is a measure of the capacity of a battery.

The easy to understand analogy we like to use is how big the fuel tank is on your car. The bigger the tank (mAh number) the longer it will last. When comparing batteries of the same type this analogy is quite accurate.

However you can’t compare the capacity of batteries of different chemistry and use. When picking a rechargeable battery a higher capacity isn’t always best. For example rechargeable AA batteries.

While the Ansmann AA 2850mAh batteries are ideal for digital cameras and flash guns with there exceptionally high capacity the much lower capacity GP Eko Power AA 1000mAh would be a much better (and cheaper) choice for a low power device such as an alarm clock or remote control.

As always we are here to help, if you have any questions or would like advice about choosing the best battery for your needs please do not hesitate to contact us.